Convicted bank robber John Killick (left) hands himself into QLD authorities on July 4, 2014. He made international headlines during the 90s after his partner broke him out of a NSW jail via helicopter. Picture: Johanna Maree - 4BC Brisbane

Hijacked-helicopter jail escapee hands himself in to police

by adavies

Adam Davies
Senior Journalist

Adam was born in New South Wales and was educated at the prestigious Scots College in Sydney.
He has worked both in Australia and United Kingdom for some of the largest newspapers in the two respective countries.
He joined APN as a senior journalist at The Chronicle in Toowoomba in 2010, before moving to APN’S Brisbane Newsdesk in 2013 where he covered politics and court.
Adam won a 2015 Queensland Clarion Award - the state's premier journalism awards - and was named 2011 APN Daily Reporter of...

A NOTORIOUS armed robber who made international headlines during the 90s after his then Russian partner broke him out of a New South Wales prison using a hijacked helicopter has handed himself into Queensland authorities.

John Killick, 72, who served a 15-year sentence in NSW for armed robbery and subsequent escape, was wanted in Queensland after breaching bail 21 years ago following an armed robbery conviction in 1983.

Queensland police claimed that when Killick was released in 1993, after serving his sentence, he committing another armed robbery in breach of his parole and then failed to meet his reporting requirements when he was placed on a good behaviour bond.

Killick was granted parole in New South Wales in April and Queensland authorities immediately lodged an extradition bid to have him returned to the Sunshine State.

He lost his extradition battle in May.

Killick had until midday on Friday to hand himself over to Queensland Police.

He arrived at Brisbane Police Headquarters shortly before 11am with his a lawyer and was wearing a NSW State of Origin scarf.

His lawyer indicted he would be seeking parole at the earliest opportunity.

Killick gained international notoriety in 1999 when his girlfriend Lucy Dudko hijacked a helicopter and helped him escape New South Wales' Silverwater prison.